OPINION
Everyone knows the score with Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez. The club’s supporters want him to stay, he wants to stay, but yet no contract extension has been secured.
However, there is clearly some optimism amongst those on Tyneside that the Spaniard will be sticking around beyond the end of his current deal. Or, at least, that’s the impression Magpies stalwart Matt Ritchie has given.
“I don’t really want to talk about that because I don’t think we’re going to [lose him],” he told The Chronicle. “I think so – hopefully, yeah,” he finished, when asked if he had a hunch Benitez was going to stay.
The Scottish international is clearly adamant that his boss is going to remain where he is. You’d think that, working with Benitez everyday, the players would certainly have a sense of where his mind is at.
With that said, the Newcastle fans will surely be jumping for joy at Ritchie’s comments. We’ve all heard before that the players want Benitez to stay and are hopeful that he will, but never have we seen a Magpies star come out and assert that he absolutely believes the former Liverpool chief is going to stay at St James’ Park.
Obviously the Toon Army have been adamant for years now that their desire is for the manager to remain where he is. There would likely be an uprising on Tyneside if Benitez does leave, but fortunately Ritchie doesn’t see that happening any time soon.
It’s good to see the players united in their desire for the boss to stay in charge. It speaks to how good a job the Spaniard has done that the players are a united front on this issue.
The club’s supporters, though, will be keen for any crumb of an indication that Benitez is going to stay, and Ritchie has just dropped a huge hint here.
